Studio couch



Aug. 15, 1939.

M. F. BAYER STUDIO COUCH- Fled March 18, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l M. F. BAYER STUDIO `comm Aug. l5, 1939.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18, 1937 @dwg M. F. BAYER STUDIO coucH Aug. 15, 1939.

Filed March 18, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 @N )QN )AN l NN Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES STUDIO COUCH Matthew F. Bayer, Kenosha, Wis., assigner to Simmons Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application March 18, 1937, Serial No. 131,576

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved studio couch and more particularly to a studio couch construction' which comprises a normally stationary couch section and a movable couch section which is normally housed under the stationary section.

The main objects of the invention are to provide a studio couch of the type indicated, wherein the stationary couch section will wholly conceal the movable section when housed under the stationary section; to provide a construction which -will permit the withdrawal of the movable section without Vseparation from the stationary section of any structure which normally constitutes a part of the stationary section, thereby facilitating uphoistering of the stationary section in a continuous, neat appearing manner; to provide a studio couch of the type indicated which may be operated with comparatively little manual effort; to provide a structure which will provide a convertible seat structure and which, when extended, Will provide a full-sized comfortable bed; and in general, it is the object of the invention to provide an improved studio couch of the type indicated.

Other objects and advantages will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings (3 sheets), wherein there are illustrated certainv selected forms of the studio couch construction embodying the present invention.

In the drawings:n

Figs. l and 2 are end elevations showing different positions of the structure.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation similar to Fig. 1, but on an enlarged scale, with certain portions broken away and shown in section to more clearly illustrate the details of construction.

Fig. 4 is a. view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts in a changed position.

Fig. 5 is` a View similar to Fig. 4.-, but showing the structure arranged to constitute a full size or double bed.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 3, but showing a rnodied construction, and

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the parts in a changed position.

Referring now to the drawings, the studio' couch therein illustrated comprises a normally stationary main couch section. lli which may be built around an angle iron framework designated in itsl entirety il, which includes depending leg elements I2. A suitable bed spring fabric (not shown) is preferably stretched across the upper angle iron framework II for supporting a permanently attached cushion structure i3 which may be covered with suitable fabric or other material.

A removable seat cushion made up of one or more sections and designated I4 is superposed on the cushion structure I3, and al back rest I5 of any suitable construction, but here shown as being made of tubular metal, is pivoted to the ends of the stationary section as indicated at I5. The back rest is supported in normal position by means of an angle iron supporting member I'I which is suitably secured to the ends of the stationary section as'clearly indicated in Figs. l to 3.

The main or stationary couch section it is so constructed as to' provide space thereunder to receive a movable couch section I8 which, when the stationary section, is in its normal position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is substantially wholly concealed, at least around the ends and front of the structure. For the purpose of effecting concealment, front and side apron elements designat-ed i9 are carried by the framework H and legs l2 and it will be understood that fabric covering and padding may, of course, cover the outside of the apron parts I 9.

The inner or movable section I8 is also preferably built up around an angle iron framework which includes a` top frame structure 28, a lower frame structure 2i and suitable connecting parts 22, together with wood frame side elements 23. Casters such as 2li are secured to the bottom of the movable section to facilitate movement of the latter over the floor. A suitable bed spring fabric structure (not shown) is preferably stretched across the upper frame member 20 to support a mattress or cushions.

The rear side of the movable section I8 is provided with a bracket member 25 which is designed to snap under a frame part 2 of the stationary section to hold the movable section in xed relation to the stationary section when housed thereunder. A pair of crossed links constituting a lazy tong 2l connects the rear edges of the stationary and movable sections as clearly indicated, to control and limit the extent of movement of the movable section relative to the stationary section.

When it is desired to convert the seat structure into a full width bed structure, the front edge of the stationary section is elevated substantially as indicated in Fig. 2, so that the lower edge 28 of the front apron I9 will be elevated above the top surface of the movable section. Thereupon the movable section may be pulled forwardly to extended bed position.

To facilitate the above operation, there is provided a spring actuated device for assisting the operating of elevating the front edge of the couch structure and for temporarily holding the front edge elevated to the extent required. The spring actuated device referred to comprises an arm 29 pivoted as indicated at 30 on the bracket 3I which is rigidly secured to the frame structure II of the stationary section. A spring 32 stretched between a portion of the arm 29 intermediate its ends and an anchoring pin 33 carried by a bracket 34 rigidly fixed to the frame I I serves to normally urge the arm 29 to swing rearwardly and downwardly toward the rear edge of the stationary section. The free end of the arm 29 is equipped with a caster 35 so that said end of the arm may roll across the floor incident to the movement of the arm. By reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it will be seen that when the arm 29 moves from initial forwardly extending position towards a vertically disposed depending position, the front edge of the stationary couch section will necessarily be elevated. The location of the pivot connection 30 between the arm 29 and couch section is, of course, predetermined to effect the desired extent of elevation of the front edge of the couch, the said extent of elevation also being dependent on the length of the arm employed.

By proper selection of spring 32, the structure may be so made that the spring alone will not be capable of effecting elevation of the couch structure, but will be sufficiently strong to require only a relatively slight additional lifting force to be manually applied to the front edge of the couch section to effect such lifting of the front edge. Also, a spring properly selected' will be capable of supporting the section in its elevated position once the couch has been brought to that position by manual assistance. Again, the supporting effect of the spring under the circumstances indicated is such that the couch may be restored to its normal level position by the application of only relatively slight manually applied downward force which will overcome the spring iesistance to downward movement. Of course, the normal force of gravity tends to lower the front edge of the structure so that only slight manual assistance is required.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the operation of converting the structure from a simple couch structure as shown in Fig. l, to a bed structure such as represented in Fig. 5, requires first the elevation of the front edge of the normally stationary section to the position shown in Fig. 2. This is easily accomplished by the application of slight upward lifting force to the front edge of the stationary section to assist the spring 32 to effect such upward movement. The spring being then suflicient to support the section in its elevated position holds the stationary section elevated while the inner section is manually withdrawn from its normal housed position under the stationary section. The stationary section may then be adjusted downwardly to its normal level position as indicated in Fig. 5. The separate or independent cushions I4 of the structure may then be removed from the main couch section and positioned on the movable section. The thickness of the seat cushions or mattress-constituting structure I4 is preferably such that the top surface thereof when on the movable section will be substantially level or coplanar withv the top surface of the permanent upholstering I3 of the stationary section. Thus the com.-

bined surfaces of the main and movable sections form a satisfactory bed surface.

When the structure is disposed with its back or rear edge near a wall as illustrated in Fig. 1, the pivot mounting of the back rest permits the latter to rock relative to the stationary section as an incident to the lifting of the front edge thereof, so that engagement oi' the back rest with the wall will not interfere with the operation of lifting the stationary section to permit withdrawal or insertion of the movable section from or to its housed position under the main section.

In some instances where it is desirable. to avoid engagement of the back edge of the couch structure or its back rest with the wall during the elevation of the front edge of the stationary section, the structure may be modied as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In the construction there shown, the arm 29 is equipped with a rubber tip or friction foot 36 so that when the front edge of the couch is elevated, the floor-engaging end of the arm 29 will remain in relatively fixed position on the floor. The rear legs of the stationary section are then preferably equipped with casters such as indicated at 31, which facilitate rolling of the rear edge of the stationary section forwardly over the floor. Such forward movement results from the fixed relationship of the foot end 36 of the arm 29 with the floor and serves to cause the rear edge of the couch structure to move forwardly away from the wall. In a commercial form of couch, the extent of such movement was found to be approximately six inches which was sufficient to prevent contacting of the upper edge of an inclined back rest rigidly secured to the stationary section from engaging the Wall when the structure was initially positioned at only a slight space from the wall. By

proper proportioning of the arm 29 and location of its pivot, the extent of such forward movement may, of course, be predetermined to meet any reasonable given requirements.

In the foregoing description and in the drawings, the movable section has been described and illustrated as of fixed construction, but it will, of course, be apparent that a collapsible couch structure may be employed if desired. The described arrangement is, however, simple and economical to produce and may be sold at a commercially practicable price. It is also simple and easy to operate, there being no complex mechanism likely to get out of order.

Changes in the described structure may be made without departing from the spirit oi the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim:

l. A studio couch comprisin.cf a normally stationary couch section and a movable section, the latter being normally housed under said. stationary section, said stationary section having a side portion adapted to `conceal said movable section when housed under stationary section, means for facilitating elevation of the front odge portion ci the stationary .section so as to permit said movable section to be moved under said side portion into or out of its normal position under the stationary section, a back. rest extending upwardly from said stationary section adjacent its rear edge, said back rest being pivotally mounted on said stationary section so as to permit the back rest to be rocked forwardly relative to the stationary section, and stop means for cooperating with said pivot mounting to support said back rest in normal upwardly extending position, whereby when said stationary section is elevated at its front edge, said back rest is adapted to rock toward the front edge to permit upward movement of said front edge to proceed unhampered in the event that said back rest engages a wall or the like as an incident to said upward movement.

2. A studio couch comprising a normally stationary couch section anda movable couch section, the latter being normally housed under said stationary section, said stationary section having a side portion adapted to conceal said movable section when housed under the stationary se tion, spring means for facilitating elevation of one edge portion of the stationary section so as to permit said movable section to be moved under said side portion into or out of its normal housed position under the stationary section, said means being such as to support said stationary section in such elevated position during the movement of said movable section, said spring means being such that the stationary section is adapted to be raised from or lowered to normal position by the application to the stationary section of relatively slight, manual, raising or lowering force, and comprising an arm pivoted adjacent one end to the section and extending toward the front edge of the section, the free end of said arm being adapted to engage the floor` said spring means acting on said arm so as to urge the same to swing downwardly and rearwardly relative to the stationary section towards a vertical position for efecting said eievation of the section.

3. A studio couch comprising a normally stationary couch section and a movable couch section, the latter being normally housed under said stationary section, said stationary section having a side portion adapted to conceal said movable section when housed under the stationary section, spring means for facilitating elevation of one edge portion of the stationary section so as to permit said movable section to be moved under said side portion into or out of its normal housed position under the stationary section, said means being such as to support said stationary section in such elevated position during the movement of said movable section, said spring means being such that the stationary section is adapted to be raised from or lowered to normal position by the application to the stationary section of relatively slight, manual, raising or lowering force, and comprising an arm pivoted adjacent one end to the section somewhat nearer to the front edge thereof than the rear edge thereof and having its free end provided with friction means for engaging the floor, and spring means acting on said arm so as to urge the same to move downwardly and rearwardly relative to the stationary section toward a vertical positon for effecting said elevation of the section, the rear edge of said section being provided with casters for facilitating rolling of said rear edge forwardly across the floor as an incident to said elevating movement.

MATTHEW F. BAYER. 

